Alabama Hardware Store Stays Busy

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Thom Williamson, owner of Cahaba Heights Hardware has been “busy, busy, busy” since the tornadoes ripped down trees and power lines in an affluent neighborhood here. Thanks to a generator he’s been able to keep his cash register open to sell batteries, gasoline cans, chainsaws, power cords and other supplies in high demand by neighbors around here. On Thursday, he used the Wi-Fi network at a McDonald’s to place an order with one of his suppliers in Houston. He asked for $7,000 worth of merchandise and $5,000 of that arrived Friday morning. Patricia Moore, a 58-year-old retiree, was buying batteries to power the lamps she’s using while her house is dark. She said she has a small generator to keep her 90-year-old mother’s oxygen running. She said the storms disoriented her mother a bit, but otherwise she’s fine. “We’re lucky,” she said. “We can’t really complain about power when there’s people out there who don’t have anything.” Others were doing more routine purchases. One customer came looking for mulch to lay out on her yard. Another was looking for polish for her silver. “Some people are getting on with their lives,” said Mr. Williamson. He estimates business is down by half because his phone is out and he’s not able to take orders, which account for a big portion of his sales. There’s been a steady stream of customers making small purchases, though. Taking advantage of that, employees of the hardware store asked for donations for the Red Cross. They collected about $1,300 dollars. For the homeless, they cooked hot dogs and burgers in the parking lot. One woman had her first hot meal in three days, said John Woltersdorf, the employee who handled the grill. “She cried,” he said.